论英美法合同承诺的生效规则

On the Rules About How Acceptance Take Effect in Contract Law in Anglo-American Legal System

我国的法学著作大都认为,两大法系在合同承诺的生效规则上存在着截然不同的规定,大陆法采纳了到达主义,英美法采纳了发信主义。然而,这种观点是错误的。因为依投邮主义,即使信函和电报在传递途中遗失,合同也照样成立,这显然不合情理,故英美法系的法官把邮递规则限定在十分狭窄的范围内。依英美法的规定,以对话为承诺时的生效规则为了解主义,非以对话为承诺时的生效规则为到达主义,邮递送达承诺时的生效规则是到达主义和投邮主义。发信主义只是合同承诺生效制度中的例外规定,两大法系的承诺生效规则差别不大。

Most jurists in china say that it is quite different on the rules about how the acceptance takes effect in contract law between the Anglo-American legal system and the continental legal system. They say an acceptance is effective as soon as the acceptance is sent out in Anglo-American legal system, while in continental legal system, the acceptance is only effective after the acceptance is received. Actually, the general rule is that an acceptance must be communicated to the offeror in Anglo-American legal system. The acceptance is generally only validly communicated when it is actually brought to the attention of the offeror, and the postal rule is exceptional.